Apparatus for forming tubular articles



Sept 7, 1937. c. J. KELLER 2,092,25

APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBULAR ARTICLES Filed June 1'7, 1955 17 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEYA,

Sept 7 1937. c. J. KELLER APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBULAR ARTICLES Filed June 17, 1935 17 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEYL Sept. 7, 1937. c. .1. KELLER 2,092,255

I APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBULAR ARTICLES Filed June 17, 1935 17 Sheets-Sheet 4 llllv v, mm /W A N% R Y HHHHHHWI H l ll' Mfl 2W m Lfilll: WW |HMII|MM| E o w m 1.- n w l 0/ H NW1 MY 1 X/ B H w v Q m M M/ I a.

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C. J. KELLER APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBULAR ARTICLES Filed June 17, 1935 17 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR //wr a/ MZZL' ATTORNEY Q BY Sept. 7, 1937. c. J. KELLER APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBULAR ARTICLES Filed June 17, 1935 17 Sheets-Sheet 6 Q N INVENTOR mm H C. J. KELLER Sept 7, 1937.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBULAR ARTICLES Filed June 17, 1935 17 Sheets-Sheet 7 64M Figh/ ATTQRNEW Sept. 7, 1937. c. J. KELLER I APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBULAR ARTICLES Filed June 17, 1955 17 Sheets-Sheet a A (N a p 7, 1937. c. J. KELLER 2,092,255

APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBULAR ARTICLES Y ATTORNEY?- Filed June 17, 1935 17 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR /MV Mwfi ATTORNEY/ NM M A k m Q? N\N haw {9 MN 3 BY Q o am.

Sept. 7, 1937.

c. J. KELLER APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBULAR ARTICLES 17 Sheets-Shee,t 11

Filed June 17, 1935 VENTOR 21.4144,

BY MM 1 Z4 d ATTORNEYA- Sept. 7, 1937. c. J. KELLER APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBULAR ARTICLES 17 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed June 17, 1935 w ng w(. T W u m H 2 75 L m p i 3 m. u wilt .J. 3 9 d. \m F I l W 6 w v m v INVENTOR P '1937. c. J. KELLER 2,092,255

APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBULAR ARTICLES 05y. 25 @/WJ QF M zaizdaawwm w ATTORNEYAL P 1937. c. J. KELLER 2,092,255

APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBULAR ARTICLES Filed June 17, 1935 17 Sheets-Sheet l5 2// 240 240 f U l 7 E E g; g mum 1: E E g g F30 V A E v -/5Z Z INVENTOR 7 7 m BY 25 MM, 757' ,6 ATTORNEY,

s t. 7, 1937. c, J. KELLE 2,092355 APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBULAR ARTICLES Filed June 17, 1955 17 Sheets-Sheet 16 ATTORNEW Sept. 7, 1937. c. J. KELLER APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBULAR ARTICLES 17 Sheets-Sheet 17 Filed June 17, 1935 H w E a a g a INVENTOR BY tau V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBULAR ARTICLES Clarence J. Keller, Anderson, Ind., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application June 17, 1935, Serial No. 26,902

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of tubular articles and more particularly to an ap paratus for forming tubular articles such as automotive lamp sockets from a continuous strip of sheet material.

It is an object of the present invention to form tubular articles through progressive stages from a continuous strip of sheet material.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a tubular article with a bayonet slot.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a tubular article with an annular shoulder intermediate its ends.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a tubular article with a laterally ex tending end flange.

. Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

! Fig. 1 illustrates progressive steps of the method pursued by the present apparatus for forming tubular articles from a strip of sheet material.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a machine pursuing the method illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is another fragmentary perspective view of the machine as viewed in the direction of arrow 3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective View of part of the machine as pointed at by the arrow 4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is another enlarged fragmentary perspective view of substantially the same part of the machine as Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 discloses the material feeding device of the machine.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6 and showing the cooperation between the two feed rolls of the feeding device.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of part of the feeding device and its operating elements, and is viewed 45 in the direction of arrow 8 in Fig. 6.

Figs. 9 and 10 together form a plan view of the lower die plate and the structure mounted thereon.

Figs. 11 and 12 together constitute a cross- .50 sectional view of the upper and lower die plates with the structure mounted thereon in inoperative position. The sections are taken on the lines ll-ll and l2-I2 of Figs. 9 and 10, respectively;

Figs. 13 and 14 together constitute a cross- .55 sectional view similar to Figs. 11 and 12, showing however, the structure on both die plates in cooperation with each other.

Fig. 15 is a transverse section taken on the line l5-I5 of Figs. 9 and 11.

Fig. 16 is a transverse section along the same 5 line I5-l5 of Fig. 11, showing, however, the upper die plate and its structure in operative position.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line I1l'| of Fig. 9. 10

Fig. 18 is a transverse section taken on the line l8l8 of Figs. 9 and 11.

Fig. 19 is a section taken on the same line l8l8 of Fig. 11, showing, however, the structure on the upper die plate in operative position. 15

Fig. 20 is a transverse section taken on the line 2l'l20 of Figs. 9 and 11.

Fig. 21 is a section taken on the same line 2ll20 of Fig. 11, showing, however, the structure on the upper die plate in operative position. 20

Fig. 22 is a transverse section taken on the line 22-42 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 23 is a transverse section taken on the line 2323 of Figs. 10 and 14.

Fig. 24 is a transverse section taken on the line 25 24-44 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on the line 25-45 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 26 is a bottom view of the upper die plate and the structure mounted thereon. 30

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary perspective view of a detail of the machine.

Figs. 28 and 29 are detail views of cams mounted on the crank shaft of the machine.

Fig. 30 is a chart, graphically illustrating the 35 timed relationship which exists between the operation of various devices of the machine, all of which contribute toward the progressive formation of a tubular article as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1, the present machine forms tubular articles such as the lamp socket 40 from a supply strip 4| of sheet material in a manner to be described presently. Prior to the severance of a blank 42 from the supply material, the latter is provided with two bayonet slots 44 by a single punching operation. Simultaneously with the punching of the bayonet slots, a longitudinal bead 45 is formed in the supply material. The supply material 4|, after having been punched and headed in the just explained manner, is fed in the direction of arrow 46 in Fig. 1 into cooperative relation with a blank severing device. The two opposite ends 41 and 48 of a severed blank 42 are then bent slightly out of the main plane of said blank and the latter is then transferred at right angles to the direction of feed of the supply material. Such transfer is sufiiciently interrupted to perform the following operations upon a blank: the blank 42 is first bent into the semi-cylindrical shape indicated 42a and thereafter into the tubular shape indicated 42b. Next the annular bead of the tubular blank 42b is flattened to form an annular shoulder 49 and an end portion of the tubular blank is finally crimped inwardly so as to provide an end flange 50. After all these operations have been performed, the finished socket is removed from the machine.

The present machine incorporates a conventional punch press frame 60, supporting a crank shaft 62, a clutch wheel 64, a one revolution clutch (not shown) which connects the power driven clutch wheel 64 with the crank shaft and is operated by mechanism to be described later, a ram 66 and a bolster plate 68. Attached in any suitable manner to the ram 66 is an upper die plate I9, and secured in any suitable manner to the bolster plate 68, for instance by angles I2, is a lower die plate 14. A plurality of pilots 16 on the upper die plate Ill are received by corresponding sockets in the lower die plate I4. Both die plates carry cooperating elements of devices which simultaneously perform the earlier explained operations, resulting in the transfiguration of a severed blank into the finished lamp socket 46 (see Fig. 1). These devices are a material feeding device A, a punching and beading device B, a shearing and pre-bending device 0, a blank transfer device D, a bending device E, a tube forming device F and a shoulder forming and flanging device G, all of which will be described detailedly in the just mentioned order.

Attached in any suitable manner to the parallel ribs 88 of the punch press frame 60 is a bracket 8| (see Figs. 6 and 7), rotatably supporting a shaft 82 on which is mounted a feed roll 83, carrying a gear 84 which meshes with a similar gear 85 of another feed roll 86, mounted on a stubshaft 81 which is received by another bracket 88, movable vertically along guide rods 89 of bracket 8|. Compression springs 90 urge bracket 88 such that the feed roll 86 thereof is in permanent, yielding engagement with feed roll 83. Attached to that end of shaft 82 which extends beyond one of the frame ribs 89 is an indexing device 93 of any suitable construction, preferably of the overrunning clutch type, which is actuated by a lengthwise adjustable link 94, connecting the indexing device with an eccentric 95 on the crank shaft 62. In order to adjust the amount of angular movement of the feed rolls while feeding, the throw of the eccentric 95 is adjustable within certain limits by means of a crank pin 91 which is connected with the link 94 and movable in a radial groove 96 of the eccentric. This crank pin 91 may be moved into any position within groove 96 by means of a spindle 98 which extends throughout groove 96 and is provided with a hexagonal socket 99 to which a suitable wrench may be applied. It is obvious that during onehalf of each revolution of the crank shaft 62 the feed rolls 83 and 86, the latter by intermediation of gears 84 and 85, rotate and feed the strip 4| of sheet material in the direction of arrow I00 in Fig. 15 until the foremost edge thereof strikes against a stop IUI of hardened steel which is secured to the lower die plate I4 by means of a cover plate I62 as best shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 15.

Punching and beading device B As more particularly shown in Figs. 9 and 15 to 17 inclusive, the fed material 4| rests on a block I III which is mounted in the lower die plate 14. A raised bead I I2 merges into the top surface III of said block I I9 and ext-ends throughout the length of said block as more particularly shown in Fig. 15. Cooperating with the raised bead H2 is a sunken bead H4, provided by a block H3 which is mounted on the upper die plate I0. Secured in any suitable manner to the upper die plate are two spaced punches H5 which cooperate with vertically aligned recesses H6 of block I I0 simultaneously to punch the two bayonet slots 44 in the strip 4|. The recesses II6 taper outwardly as illustrated in Fig. 1'7 so that the punched-out slugs II'I may freely descend and pass through the bolster plate 68 through suitable openings I I8 in the lower die plate I4 and aligned openings in the bolster plate. Mounted on top of the lower die plate I4 is a stripper plate H9 which has an opening I26 through which the upper beading die H3 may pass, and two apertures 2| (see particularly Figs. 9 and 1'7) through which the punches IE5 may pass. This stripper plat-e H9 prevents the punched and beaded strip 4| from following the upper beading and punching dies when the same separate from, their stationary companion dies on the lower die plate 14. It appears from Figs. 15 and 16 that the length of the beading dies within the confines of the stripper plate H9 is greater than the width of a blank 42. Due to this greater length of the beading dies 2. continued head 45 in the strip is assured after the latter has been finally advanced into engagement with the stop IIJI and a subsequent operation of the beading dies lengthens the previous bead without interruption. That the beading dies form a continuous bead in the strip 4| is evidenced by Fig. 16 in which the bead 45 is shown continued to the point of severance of blanks from the strip. The punches H5 extend beyond the upper beading die H3 sufficiently to assure that the strip 4| has been notched when the beading dies have completed their operation.

Shearing and pie-bending device 0 Referring more particularly to Figs. 9, 11, 15 and 16, the upper die plate I0 carries a block I39 to which is secured a shear plate |3|, the edge I32 of which is adapted to cooperate with a shearing edge I33 of the lower beading die I I0 in order to shear a blank 42 from the beaded and punched supply strip 4|. The lower die plate I4 carries a block I34 having opposite beveled ends I35 which are adapted to cooperate with correspondingly beveled surfaces I35 and I3! of block I30 and shear plate I3I, respectively. These cooperating beveled surfaces are adapted to bend two opposite end portions of a severed blank into the shape shown in cross-section in Fig. 16. Block I38 and shear plate |3| are provided with a transverse groove |38 to provide clearance for the bead 45 while the blank 42 is bent into the shape shown in Fig. 16. It appears clearly from Fig. 15 that the material 4| is fed considerably above the top of the lower bending block I 34 so that upon d scent of the upper die plate into the position shown in Fig. 16, that length of the material which extends from the stop IOI to the shearing edge I 33 (length of a blank) is first shorn off the remaining supply material and only after descent of the severed blank 42 upon the top of the lower bending block I34 does the bending operation take place as can be readily understood.

Blank transfer device D Referring more particularly to Figs. 2, 9, 11, 13, 25 and 2'7, the lower die plate 14 carries a block I40, providing a guide-way I40a which is continued into the lower bending block I34 as shown in Fig. 15. The lower die plate 14 also provides a track MI in which a cross-head I42 is slidable and is retained therein by means of suitable plates I42a. Secured to cross-head I42 bya screw I43 is a transfer blade I44 the forward end of which is provided with a slide I45 (see particularly Figs. 15 and 27) which rides in the guide-way I40a. Slide I45 preferably consists of two identical members I46 which are in any suitable manner secured to the transfer blade I 44. As best shown in Figs. 13 and 27, the forward end of the transfer blade I44 is provided with a tongue I41 and a shoulder I48 which is adapted to engage the adjacent edge I50 of a severed and pre-bent blank while the tongue I41 is adapted to overlap the blank as more particularly shown in Fig. 11. Reciprocation of cross-head I42 and of the attached transfer blade I44 is accomplished by means of a bell-crank lever II which is pivotally mounted at I52 to spaced brackets I53 on the lower die plate 14. One arm of lever I5I pivotally receives at I54 a rectangular member I55 which is slidable vertically in a rectangular groove I56 of cross-head I42, thus establishing a floating, pivotal connection between lever I5! and cross-head I42. The other arm of lever I5I is provided with an oblong slot I51 through which extends a pin I58, carried by a steel yoke I59 of the upper die plate 10. Hence, descent or ascent of the upper die plate results in retraction and advancement of the transfer blade I44 into and from station W where a blank 42 is severed from the supply material and subsequently bent into the cross-sectional shape shown in Fig. 16.

As appears more clearly from Figs. 11, 13, 18 and 19, a cylindrical arbor I60 is secLu'ed by screws I6I to a correspondingly curved surface I62 of a supporting block I63 which is vertically slidable in a suitable recess I64 of the lower die plate 14. This supporting block I63 is provided with two opposite shoulders I65 which are normally urged into engagement with shoulders I66 and I01, provided by the lower bending block I34 and a die block I68, respectively, by means of compression springs I69. When the shoulders I65 of the supporting block I63 are in engagement with their respective shoulders I 66 and I61, the periphery of the arbor is flush with the top surface of bending block I34 on which a severed, pre-bent blank rests. It may be stated in advance that the arbor assumes the just mentioned position relative to the lower bending block I34 when the transfer blade I44 advances a severed and prebent blank from station W to station X, so that a thus advanced blank actually slides on the periphery of the arbor into station X as more particularly shown in Figs. 11 and 18. In order to prevent a blank from sliding off the arbor I60 at station X, blank retainers I1I are slidable linearly to and from such a blank on top of the lower die plate 14. These retainers are provided with opposite grooves I12 which receive the pre-bent end portions of the blank while the same is advanced into station X. The traveling stroke of these retainers I1I is limited by means of stop screws I13 which project through oblong slots I14 of both retainers and are received by the lower die plate 14. The retainers I1I are guided for linear movement by gib plates I (Fig. 9) and are normally urged into the position shown in Fig. 18 by means of compression springs I16, which are housed in tubular sleeves I11, carried by L-shaped brackets I18 which are secured to the lower die plate 14.

At station X the pre-bent blank is formed into the semi-cylindrical shape 42a as illustrated in Fig. 1. For that purpose the upper die plate 10 carries a bending block I80 having a semi-cylindrical bending surface I8I, adapted to cooperate with the arbor I60 in bending a blank at station X half-way around said arbor. This bending block I80 is provided with oppositely tapered surfaces I82 which during descent of the upper die plate 10 from the position shown in Fig. 18 cooperate with correspondingly tapered surfaces I83 of the retainers HI and force the latter away from the blank such that at the time block I80 contacts the blank, the retainers I1I have cleared the pre-bent ends thereof. Upon continued descent of block I80 the arbor I60 is depressed against the compression of springs I69 until the supporting member I63 comes to rest on the bottom surface I84 of recess I64 as shown in Fig. 19, and only thereafter proceeds the semicylindrical surface I8I of block I80 to bend the blank half-way around the arbor as shown in Fig. 19. Upon the following ascent of the upper die plate 10, arbor I60 follows block I80 into the uppermost position shown in Fig. 11. In order to prevent the semi-cylindrical blank 42a from following the further ascending block I80 after the arbor I60 has reached the limit of its ascent as shown in Fig. 11, a spring urged retainer bar I85 is pivotally mounted at I85 to a bracket I81 which is in turn mounted on the lower die plate 14.

In order to avoid interference between the retainer bar I85 and blocks I30 and I80 of the upper die plate 10, both blocks are provided with aligned grooves I88 which clear the retainer bar I85 under all circumstances. In order to prevent any disfiguration of the bead during the bending of the blank into semi-cylindrical shape, the bending surface I8I of block I80 is provided with a groove I89 which entirely clears the bead when said bending surface forces the blank halfway around the arbor.

It is clear from the earlier description of the movement of the transfer blade I44 in response to movement of the upper die plate that said transfer blade never interferes with the movement of blocks I30 and I80 of the upper die plate.

Tube forming device F Referring more particularly to Figs. 9, 11, 13, and 21, a semi-cylindrical blank 42a is advanced on the arbor I60 into station Y by a severed and pre-bent blank while being transferred from station W to station X by the transfer blade I44. Such transfer and advancement, respectively, of the blanks takes place during the latter part of the ascent of the arbor into the position shown in Fig. 11 as can be readily understood. As best shown in Fig. 20, block I68 comprises a semi-cylindrical die surface I90, the complementary die surface I9I to which is provided by a block I92 on the upper die plate 10. Upon descent of the upper die plate 10 from the position shown in Fig. 20 to that shown in Fig. 21, the die surface ISI engages the semi-cylindrical portion of the blank 42a. at station Y and thereafter depresses the arbor from the position 

